Running Stallion Art Gallery

Get ready to meet a horse who wasn't just fast; he was pure magic on four hooves! Secretariat, famously known as "Big Red," is more than just a racehorse legend; he's an icon whose incredible speed and heart captured the world's imagination. He didn't just win races; he shattered records and became the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years, leaving everyone breathless with his unbelievable victories. His story is about raw talent, a fighting spirit, and a legacy that still influences champions today. If you love horses, you're going to love learning about the horse often called the greatest of all time!

Our hero, Secretariat, burst into the world on March 30, 1970, at Meadow Stud in Virginia. He was a bright, fiery chestnut colt with three white socks and a distinctive white star and stripe on his face. Right from the start, he was special. He stood up just 45 minutes after being born and nursed half an hour later! The farm manager, Howard Gentry, said he was "as perfect a foal that I ever delivered." Even as a baby, he stood out. Robert Gentry, Howard's nephew, remembered, "He was always the leader in the crowd... To us, he was Big Red, and he had a personality. He was a clown and was always cutting up, always into some devilment." When Penny Chenery, the owner, first saw him, she simply wrote "Wow!" in her notebook.

His dad was the legendary Bold Ruler (you might remember him!), and his mom was a mare named Somethingroyal. There's even a cool story about how Penny Chenery got him: she won a coin toss that decided which foal she'd get from a breeding agreement! Secretariat grew into a massive, powerful horse, standing 16.2 hands tall, with a huge chest that needed a custom-made girth and incredibly strong hindquarters. People said he had "nearly perfect" conformation, meaning his body was built just right for running. An Australian trainer even exclaimed, "He is incredible, an absolutely perfect horse. I never saw anything like him!"

Secretariat's racing career started in 1972, and it wasn't always smooth. In his very first race, he got bumped hard at the start and finished fourth. But he quickly learned, winning his next race by six lengths! His regular jockey, Ron Turcotte, started riding him, and people began to notice his incredible talent. In the Sanford Stakes, he was blocked by other horses but then burst through "like a hawk scattering a barnyard of chickens" to win. He won the Hopeful Stakes with a "dazzling" move, passing eight horses in a quarter-mile! He won the Futurity Stakes and Laurel Futurity too.

However, in the Champagne Stakes, he finished first but was disqualified to second for interfering with another horse. Despite this, his amazing two-year-old season, with seven wins in nine starts, earned him the Eclipse Award for champion two-year-old colt, and he was even named the 1972 Horse of the Year – a super rare honor for such a young horse! As his three-year-old season began, his owner, Penny Chenery, had to syndicate him for a record-breaking $6.08 million to help with estate taxes, but she kept control of his racing career for the year. He started 1973 with impressive wins in the Bay Shore Stakes and Gotham Stakes, even tying a track record in the latter. But then came the Wood Memorial, where he finished a surprising third. It turned out he had a painful abscess in his mouth, which made him sensitive to the bit. This setback only made his upcoming Triple Crown journey even more dramatic!

The 1973 Kentucky Derby was Secretariat's chance to prove himself. He started last but then began to pick off horses one by one. He battled his rival Sham down the stretch and pulled away to win by 2½ lengths, setting a still-standing track record of 1:59 2/5! What's even crazier is that he ran each quarter-mile segment faster than the one before it, meaning he was still accelerating at the end of the race! Sportswriter Mike Sullivan described it perfectly: "It was like he was some other animal out there."

Two weeks later, in the Preakness Stakes, Secretariat pulled off another jaw-dropping move. He broke last again but then made a massive, last-to-first surge on the first turn, leaving everyone stunned. He won by 2½ lengths, with Sham again in second. The exact time of the race was debated for years, but in 2012, after a review, his time was officially recognized as 1:53, a new stakes record! By the time the Belmont Stakes arrived, Secretariat was a national celebrity, appearing on the covers of Time, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated. People needed a break from the news of the day, and "Secretariat suddenly transcended horse racing and became a cultural phenomenon."

On June 9, 1973, the Belmont Stakes became the race of a lifetime. Only four horses dared to challenge him. Secretariat and Sham set a blistering pace, but Sham soon tired. Secretariat, however, just kept going, widening his lead with every stride. CBS announcer Chic Anderson famously declared, "Secretariat is widening now! He is moving like a tremendous machine!" He crossed the finish line an astonishing 31 lengths ahead of the second-place horse, shattering the previous record for margin of victory! His time of 2:24 flat for 1½ miles on dirt is still the American record. It was a performance so incredible that many winning tickets were kept as souvenirs instead of being cashed. Secretariat became the ninth Triple Crown winner, and his victory is widely considered the greatest race ever run by a Thoroughbred.

Even after his Triple Crown triumph, Secretariat continued to race. He won the Arlington Invitational by nine lengths, thrilling fans in Chicago. He faced older horses for the first time in the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga, a track known as "the graveyard of champions." He suffered a surprising loss there, which was later attributed to a viral infection. But Big Red bounced back! He won the Marlboro Cup, setting a world record for 1⅛ miles on dirt, and became the 13th Thoroughbred millionaire in history. He then showed his versatility by winning the Man o' War Stakes on turf, setting a course record. His final race was the Canadian International Stakes, also on turf, which he won by 6½ lengths, even without Ron Turcotte riding him.

Secretariat retired with 16 wins from 21 starts and over $1.3 million in earnings. He was again named Horse of the Year for 1973, along with other Eclipse Awards. His stud career was different from his racing one; while he sired some champions like Lady's Secret (1986 Horse of the Year) and Risen Star (Preakness and Belmont winner), his greatest influence came through his daughters. He became the leading broodmare sire in North America in 1992, meaning his daughters produced amazing champions like Storm Cat and A.P. Indy, who themselves became legendary sires. Through them, Secretariat's bloodline is found in countless modern champions, including Triple Crown winners American Pharoah and Justify!

Secretariat passed away in 1989 at age 19 from laminitis, a painful hoof condition. He was given the rare honor of being buried whole at Claiborne Farm. During his necropsy, the pathologist noted his heart was "perfect" and a "huge engine," estimating it weighed 22 pounds – about 2.5 times the average horse heart! This "x-factor" heart is thought to be a genetic trait passed down through his family line. Secretariat was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974, and his legacy lives on through countless honors, including a U.S. postage stamp, statues, and even roads named after him across the country. His story was even made into a Disney movie!

Secretariat's journey from a spirited foal to a global phenomenon is truly unforgettable. He was a horse who defied expectations, broke records, and captivated millions with his breathtaking speed and undeniable courage. His Triple Crown victories were not just wins; they were moments of pure magic that transcended sports. And his influence continues to shape the Thoroughbred breed through his incredible daughters and their champion offspring. Secretariat wasn't just a great racehorse; he was a once-in-a-lifetime athlete whose spirit and legacy will continue to inspire horse lovers for generations to come.